Invisalign vs Traditional Braces Portland, OR

Oral hygiene –

Another factor to compare when evaluating Invisalign® vs. traditional braces for teens is oral hygiene. This is a big deal because, as a dentist, we do not want any of our patients to suffer from decay and as a parent, you do not want your child to end up with a bunch of cavities. At Rachel Cole DDS PC, our solution is to provide teens with Invisalign® instead of braces. When wearing braces, the risk for decay naturally goes up because it is harder to keep teeth clean. With Invisalign®, the aligners come out while brushing so their oral hygiene routine can remain virtually the same. The only slight difference is that the aligners need to be brushed with warm water and a soft toothbrush before being put back in. We can also recommend a special cleaning solution but otherwise, the process is the same as always and completely easy. If your teen gets braces instead, they will need to use a special flossing tool and a brush that looks like a tree to get the food particles and plaque off of the area around the brackets. This has to be repeated for every tooth so you can imagine how much longer it will take.

School activities –

Don't forget school activities when comparing Invisalign® vs. traditional braces for teens. At Rachel Cole DDS PC, we have found that the majority of our patients do more than simply go to school. They are in the band, choir, play sports, act in the school play, etc. In other words – they are busy. Braces can interfere with this because they can be uncomfortable and make it difficult to play an instrument. They can also create a hazard when playing high-impact sports. Fortunately, Invisalign® does not. The aligners can be removed during any of these activities so that your teen does not have to sacrifice anything to straighten their teeth. They will be far happier with the process as a result. If you are unsure about a specific activity and how Invisalign® could impact it, visit our Portland, OR dental office to speak with Dr. Rachel Cole DDS.

After braces –

Once your teen is done wearing Invisalign or traditional braces they will need to wear a retainer. It is normal and few, if any, can escape this reality. The reason is simple. Teeth can revert back to their old position, if only slightly. Wearing a retainer at night, can help to keep teeth in the correct and improved position. The good news is that your teen will be so used to wearing their aligners, a retainer will not seem like a big deal. In our Portland dental office, we can explain the various options for retainers but typically recommend a clear, full retainer that closely resembles the aligners they are accustomed to.

Call our Portland, Oregon dental office at 503-248-1114 to discuss this solution in further detail. At Rachel Cole DDS PC, we can answer your questions and help your teen to make an informed decision regarding their orthodontics treatment. We are located in the Portland area and look forward to meeting you to discuss Invisalign Teen®.